This time last year I was taking part in the Turning The Page On Cancer fundraiser.
And this year, I'm not only taking part again (alongside my hometown besties this time), but I'm honoured to have been asked to sit on the planning committee, which is made up of a small group of amazing humans – all who have been touched by cancer in one way or another.
Turning the Page on Cancer is a fundraising initiative themed around literacy and advocacy for the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) cause. Participants unite in their love of reading to raise both awareness and funds. Several events are planned throughout October with a final Read-A-Thon and day of self-care planned for Sunday, October 17th, 2021.
Sadly our beautiful founder Samantha passed away this summer, and the MBC community lost a beautiful human and incredible advocate. And while I couldn’t possibly begin to fill her shoes, I’m honoured to sit alongside the TTPOC committee, as we carry on in Sam’s memory, and continue to build her legacy.
And with that being said, I am reaching out to ask for your support ... again.
All donations will continue go directly to Rethink Breast Cancer's Metastatic Breast Cancer fund.
For more information on both organizations, and how to donate, see below for the blog post that I wrote last year.
Sadly, not much has changed over the last 12 months, as far as the stats go.
There are still far too many discrepancies and inadequacies when it comes to recording, reporting AND research for Metastatic Breast Cancer. And our community needs more than just 'awareness'. We need ACTION – big or small!
If you're not able to donate or shop for a cause, you can still help. You can share this with your family and friends, and on social media. You can also pledge to become an MBC Ally.
All links and details are below. The only thing to watch for is the date. Anywhere that you see October 25th (the date for last years Read-A-Thon), that will be October 17th this years.
(last years blog post ... )
Well, it's October people - Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
And I'm going to take the opportunity to hopefully spread a little awareness ... and ask for some money (For a good cause. Not for my new shoe fund)!😉
Did you know that:
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
It is estimated that 1 in 20 women are diagnosed de novo – which means their initial diagnosis was stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
There is no data recorded for the women who progress from stage 1, 2, or 3, to stage 4. These women continue to be counted as early stage breast cancer.
Only 2-7% of funds raised for breast cancer research actually go to the study of metastasis?
Breast cancer can only kill you if you have metastatic (aka stage IV) breast cancer?
For men and women living with metastatic breast cancer, treatment will NEVER be over.
Think on all of that for a minute.
And while (almost) any awareness is good, MUCH MORE ACTION + EDUCATION + ADVOCACY + RESEARCH needs to happen for Metastatic Breast Cancer (aka MBC, secondary breast cancer, advanced breast cancer, stage IV breast cancer).
It's so important to educate ourselves, and others, on what it means to have this disease. And while we've come far, we've not come near far enough - especially when it comes to MBC research & awareness.
I read a post the other day on Instagram, that was really eye opening for me. I don't know that I had ever quite looked at it in that way before. But when I read it, it hit home for me!
"Primaries, we want to help you by eradicating your fear of being one of the 30% - myself and 1000's of others are sadly already living this nightmare and it may be too late for us to benefit from the work we're doing now. You however could benefit. I hope you understand. We can only move forward and make progress if we talk about it and shout out the inadequacies, the inequalities and the disparities in #SBC (secondary breast cancer) care. You can start helping yourselves and us by tapping in to the charities and organizations who 100% care about your future."
And this is so damned true!
I shared the post to my stories, and that opened the door to a conversation with the incredible woman who wrote it. Here's a snippit of that convo ...
So thank you Mary. Thank you for providing me with the AH-HA moment that I needed. I most definitely have seen the light! 🖤
And with all of that being said, Rethink Breast Cancer and Turning The Page On Cancer have partnered to raise more awareness AND funds for Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Research - and I am honoured to be a part of this fundraising team!
On October 25th I'll be taking part in an all-day Read-A-Thon, hosted by Turning The Page On Cancer, to help raise funds and awareness for metastatic breast cancer research, and I'm asking for your help in reaching my goal.
All funds donated will go directly to the MBC FUND at Rethink Breast Cancer, which is an incredible organization that has provided me with a community of amazing women who are also living with breast cancer. The support and resources that they provide us with are invaluable. And they really get behind their Metavivors!
While we of course want your money, I also understand that it's a wild and crazy time right now. So if you're not able to donate (and even if you are), then might I ask that you pledge to become a MBC Ally. It won't cost you anything except for a few moments of your time. This Movement was created with the goal of doubling the overall survival of MBC by 2025, and each of you can help us reach the goal of 10,000 pledges.
ALSO, Indego (books) has also joined in on the fun, with their own fundraiser. For every e-gift card purchased online (via the below link), 15% will be donated to Turn The Page On Cancer.
And this is open to everyone! You simply buy a gift card (or ten), and it will be sent directly to your email and can be used immediately in store or online. This is a great gift idea!
Be sure to use this link. It will direct you to Turning The Page's specific Indigo fundraising page.
Last, but certainly not least, if you'd like to go Lymphatically Luxurious with BigB Deodorant, I will be donating 100% of the profits from every sale in October to Turning The Page.
BigB is all natural, chemical free and does not contain any baking soda or aluminum.
P.S.
You will receive a tax receipt from RETHINK for any donations made through my fundraising page.
Please feel free to share (all of) this with your friends and family, and on social. The more action we can ALL take (no matter how big or small), the more change we'll see and funds we'll raise!
I'm taking book suggestions, so drop any referrals below.
And to all of my Canadian peeps, I wish you a Warm and Happy Thanksgiving Monday! 🇨🇦 🍁 🦃